COURSE CURRICULUM

The Course-based Pattern II master’s program develops strong conceptual, analytical, and interpretive skills without requiring the intensive research associated with a thesis. Instead of completing a major research project, students take six half-credit courses, including ENSC 801 Interdisciplinarity as a Basis for Environmental Studies and ENSC 802 Solutions to Global Environmental Challenges, which together provide a broad interdisciplinary foundation for understanding complex environmental issues. In addition to coursework, students undertake a library-based research project focused on a clearly defined interdisciplinary problem relevant to environmental studies. This project culminates in a major formal paper of roughly 60 pages, or about 15,000 words, demonstrating the student’s ability to synthesize literature, evaluate evidence, and present a coherent argument. Students also give a public seminar, preferably as part of the School’s seminar series, to share their findings with the academic community. Designed to provide rigorous training while allowing for a shorter completion timeline, the program can be finished in three semesters and must be completed within five, making it a flexible option for students seeking advanced environmental studies training without the extended research commitment of the thesis-based stream.